Punch-press feeder



Jul 2, 1929. L. ROBERTSON 1.719.195

PUNCH PRESS FEEDER Filed Feb. 23, 1928 86:02 mus 5 Patented July 2, 1929.

- UNITED STATES LAURENCE ROBERTSON, TOLEDO, OHIO.

PUNCH-PRESS 1 FEEDER.

Application filed February 23, 1928. Serial na asazsc.

This invention relates to a punchpress feeder, the use of which makes it possible to means.

operate a punch press continuously and rapidly, and with comparative safety. The 1nvention includes mechanism which isdriven from the tool actuating shaft to reciprocate the table which supports the sheet of material to be punched or pressed. The table with the sheet thereon is carried beneaththe tool in time to be engaged by the latter upon its downward stroke, and is then withdrawn to a convenient position to receive the next sheet, so that the same operation may berepeated upon the next downward stroke of the tool. 1 v 1 1 y The specific construction of the invention, in its present embodiment,1 together with its mode of operation and the advantages resulttherefrom, will be more particularly described in connection with the accompany ing drawings, in whichy l Figure 1 is a side elevation of a punch press with the invention applied thereto. 1 y 1 r Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a section taken s1 bstantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 4 is a detail viewtaken approximately on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3. 1 i

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewfof the feed barrel and traveler, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. y i y The invention is illustrated as applied to a punch press which mounted in a suitable frame 1 having a head 2 for guiding a ver tically reciprocating plunger 3.11 This plunger is actuated from a crank shaft 4 through the medium of a pitman 5. A fly-wheel 6 is secured to the crank shaft 4 and the latter may be continuouslydriven by a belt 7 connected with the flywheel, or by any othersuitable The plunger 3 carries a head 8 to which a tool 9may be secured tocooperate with a corresponding die 10, which ,is mounted on a base 11. y y

The feeder, which constitutes the subject matter of the invention, comprises a rotatable feed barrel 12 which is supported at one end in bearings 13 mounted at one end of the frame 1. This end of the barrel 12 has a reduced extension 14 to which a crank 15 is secured. This crank is connected by a pitman .16to a crank 17 secured to the crank shaft 4. The effective length of the crank 17 1 is somewhat less than thatofthe crank 15,

1 so that asthe crank 17 revolveswith thecrank shaft 4 the crank 15 and the feed barrel 12 are rocked back and forth through an arc of somewhat less than 180. 1 1 1 A traveler 18 is mounted on the barrel 12 and is provided with inwardlyprojecting lugs 19 which are adapted to ride in worm grooves 20 formed in the surface of the barrel 12. These lugs may be provided with roll- ,ers, if desired, to lessen the friction. The traveler 18 is formed with rearwardly proj ecting arms 21 which are slidably mounted 011 rods 22, the latter being supported in end brackets 23 mounted at the ends of the frame 1. Thus the traveler 18, supported bythe rods 22, serves to support the inner end of the barrel l2 and is reciprocated longitudinally of the barrel as the latter is rocked.

A table base 24 isalso carried by the traveler 18 and supports a table 25 through the medium of legs 26. Each of these legs is formed at its upper end with a T-head 27 whichis adj ustably mounted in a channel 28 formed n thetable so that the latter may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly. The

heads 27 are secured in the desired position by set screws 29. The legs 26 are slidably mounted in bores 30 formed in thebase24 and the table 25 is normallyheld in its uppermost. position by coil springs 31, which are mounted in seats 32 and heads 27. g

The table 25 isadapted to carry a sheet of metal 33, to be punched or stamped. The table is formed at its front edge with a flange 34 against which the edge of thesheet 33 is pressed and series of holes 35 may be formed at one slde ofthe table to receive pegs, against which another edge o fthesheet 33 may rest.

The table is formed with a slot or opening 36 wide enough to uncover the die 10 as the table advances to its innermost position As the table approaches this position the tool 9 is "descending. The head 8 is formed with rearwardlyand downwardly projecting arms 37 which engage the table 25 behind the sheet 33and, Just before the tool engages the sheet,

the arms engage the table and force the same downwardly against the pressure of the springs 31, leaving the sheet upon the die 10 and clear of thetable. The ends of the bear against the y y arms 37 may carry anti-frictionballs 38 to facilitate the completion of the inward movement of the table after it is depressed. The inner ends39 of the grooves 210 are extended substantially at right angles to the axis of barrel 12 as the crankslTand 1-5 swing upwardly; Aclearingblade 40 may also be provided' for clearing-the work from the table duringthereturn travel of the latter. This clearing bladeyas shown in Fig. 2, may be supported by an armll which may be secured to anysuitable partof'the frame 1. The blade 40 is supported in a position where it will barely ,clear the blank 33 during the advance p, of the latter. In most'pressing operations, as

in? shaping tin can covers for instance, the resulting article will stand up from the table 2521's the latter is retracted and will be swept therefrom automatically. The blade 40 is inclined at such an angle that'the work will be thrown [forwardly as it is swept from the table; a While Ihave shown and described in considerable detail one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this'lis merelyfor the purpose of illustr ating theprinciple of the invention, and that the form, size andrelative arrangement of -.the various parts thereof may be considr 'era'bly modified to adapt themto' the specific purposefor which the machineis to be used or to accommodate them to varioustypes of punch presses, without any material departure fromthe scope of the invention as claimedi:

I l. in a punch-press, the combination with 'a' reciprocable plunger'adaptedto carry a tool, a stationary base for supporting a die,

janjd'a continuously rotatable crank shaft'for actuating the plunger, of aitablereciproeabl'e fabove said "base, and means operated by said crankishaft to advance the table beneath the plunger. as the latte'r descends "and to retract saidtable"asitheplunger is raised, said table beingjinitial'ly'in a work receiving position at one side'of the die, leaving the latter uncovered, the central'fportionofjthe table be- ,fling 'cutgaw'aysoa's' to leave the die again un- "covered'a'tthe conclusion of its advance move- '"'mounted'memberto' drive said member in one direction to advance thetable beneath the plunger as'the'latterdescends and to drive said member in the opposite direction to retract said table as the plunger is raised, said table being initially in a work receiving position at one side of the die, leaving the latter uncovered, the central portion of the table being cut away so as to leave the die again uncovered at the conclusion of its advance movement.

3. In a punch press, the combination with a main frame, a plunger reciprocably niounted insaid frame and adapted to carry a tool, a stationary base on said frame for supporting a die, and a continuously rotatable crank shaft for actuating the plunger, of a traveler slidably supported for horizontal movement, a rockable member journaled at one end in the frame, the other end of said member being supported by said traveler and having a worm connection therewith, whereby to reciprocate said traveler as said member is rocked, a table supported 'by said traveler in position to be moved across the path of the plunger, and means connected with said crank shaft for rocking said member.

4. In a punch press, the combination with a main frame, a plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation therein and adapted to carry a tool, a stationary base for supporting a die, and a continuously rotatable crank shaft for actuating the plunger, of a table for supporting a sheet of metal to be worked. upon, the initial position of the table being at one side of the die, leaving the latter uncovered and means operated in synchronism with the crank shaft for advancing the table beneath the plunger beforethe latter completes its descent and for retracting said table after the plunger begins its upward movement, a portion of the table bein cut away so as to leave the die uncovered wien the table is at the limit of its advance position.

5. .In a punclrpress, the combination with a reciprocable plunger for carrying a tool, means for securing a die beneath said plunger, and a continuously rotatable crank shaft for actuating the plunger, of a table, a base upon which the table is resiliently supported, said table base being reciprocable horizontally, means operated by said crank shaft to advance the table beneath the plunger as the latter descends and to retract said table as the plunger is raised, said table havinga portion cut away so as to leave thedie uncovered when the table is advanced, and means carried by the plunger for depressing the table immediately before the sheet is engaged by the tool. j

.6; In a punch press, thecombination with a vertically reciprocable plunger adapted to carry a tool, means for securing a die beneath the plunger, and a continuously rotatable crankshaft foractuating the plunger, of a table for supporting a sheet of-metal to be worked upon, a base on which the table is resiliently supported, said table base being reciprocable horizontally beneath the plunger, a rotatably mounted member having a worm driving connection with the table base, mechanism connecting said crank shaft to the rotatably mounted member to drive said member in one direction to advance the table beneath the plunger as the latter descends and to drive said member in the opposite direction to retract said table as the plunger is raised, said table having an opening which leaves the die uncovered aslthe table is advanced, and means carried by the plungor for depressing the table immediately be fore the sheet is engaged by the tool.

7. In a punch press, the combniation with a main frame, a plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation in said frame and adapted to carry a tool, means for supporting a die beneath said plunger, and a continuously rotatable crank shaft for actuating the plunger, of a table adapted to support a sheet of metal to be worked upon,abaseupon whichthetable is resiliently supported, a traveler to which said table base is secured, said traveler being i slidably supported for horizontal movement,

a rockable member journaled at one end in the frame, said rockable member being partially supported by the traveler and having a worm connection therewith whereby to reciprocate for rocking said member, said table having a portion cut away so 'as to leave the die uncovered when the table is advanced, and means carried by the plunger for depressing the table immediately before the sheet is engaged by the tool.

8. In a punch press the combination with a vertically reciprocable plunger for carrying a tool, means for supporting a die beneath the tool, and a continuously rotatable crank shaft for actuating the plunger, of a table for supporting a sheet of metal to be Worked upon, a base upon which the table is resiliently supported, means operated in synchronism with the crank shaft for advancing the table with its base beneath the plunger before the latter compjletes its descent and for retracting said ta le after the plunger begins its upward movement, said table having a portion cut away so as to leave the die uncovered when the table is in advanced position, and means carried by the plunger for depressing the table immediately before the sheet is engaged by the tool.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

LAURENCE ROBERTSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,719,195. Granted July 2, 1929, to

LAURENCE ROBERTSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2-, line 102, claim 4, after the word "table" insert the words "to its initial position"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same my conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of July, A. D. 1929.

. M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

